Newly elected eThekwini Ward 36 councillor Sam Reddy says he will focus on service-delivery follow-ups, municipal accountability and regular communication with Durban North residents.
Speaking to sundaytribune.co.za after his win, Reddy commended Durban North residents for placing their trust in the Democratic Alliance (DA) and voting for the party in the ward.
The new councillor received victory after gaining 18 005 votes (81.65%).
Reddy's values are simple: communication, accountability and collaboration.
He said the first thing he will do for the community, is get better at tracking service delivery issues and ensure they do not simply disappear into the municipal system.
"Residents deserve feedback, proper follow ups and answers. Whether it is a water outage, a burst pipe or a sewerage leak, we need to make sure that the right departments are engaged and held accountable," said Reddy.
The new councillor assured to strengthen partnership with the community.
"Durban North has incredible people, residents’ associations, neighbourhood watches, the Community Policing Forum (CPF), businesses and community organisations. We need to bring these people together, strengthen what is already working and address the gaps, particularly when it comes to crime and public safety," Reddy said.
He promised to constantly engage with relevant stakeholders to root out communication issues.
"We cannot keep waiting for problems to become crises before doing something about them. Regular engagement with municipal departments, proper oversight and identifying recurring problems are essential," he said.
He believes that making promises to residents was any easy part, but delivering on them that is where it counts.
"This is where we make a shift happen. The first priority is to listen, understand the issues affecting residents and turn our commitments into an actual programs that have an impact on the ground. As residents we need to share our thoughts and visions about where we want Durban North. We need to collaborate to build a community for the generations to come," said Reddy.
He assured that he would let residents about his plans to revive the ward.
"I will ensure that the community knows about anything I am working on and what progress is being made and importantly, where we are the challenges. I will engage with the community regularly and provide updates on the work being done," he said.
However, Reddy is aware that a councillor cannot personally fix every municipal problem.
"But, I can ask the difficult questions, escalate issues, demand answers and keep pushing until we get results. I believe now is where the real work begins as a community and how we together we can build something amazing," he said.
Reddy applauded the Durban North residents for choosing him and the DA.
"From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who supported me, encouraged me and believed in what we were trying to achieve. To every resident of Durban North, regardless of who you voted for, I want you to know that I am here to serve our community," he assured.
Reddy believes that some residents may have different political views, but they share the same streets, neighbourhoods, schools, parks and concerns about the future of the community.
"I want us to move forward together. There is so much potential in Durban North, and I believe that by working together, sharing ideas and holding one another accountable, we can make a meaningful difference. I will make mistakes along the way, and there will be challenges, but I will always be willing to listen, engage and do the work."
Johann van den Berg of Durban North Residents' and Ratepayers Association, said they intend to maintain an open and constructive relationship with the councillor and the municipality.
"We will continue raising residents’ concerns, following up on outstanding issues, escalating matters where necessary and keeping the community informed. We believe accountability is not about finding fault or playing politics. It is about asking the right questions, getting answers and making sure that things actually get done," he said.
He said they are open to working with anyone who has Durban North's interest at heart.
"But, we will also speak up when things are not happening as they should. At the end of the day, we all live here. This is our home, and we all want the same thing, a safe, clean and well-maintained neighbourhood where residents feel heard and get the services they deserve," said van den Berg.